New Delhi: The Chirag Delhi flyover in South Delhi was opened for traffic at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The closing of its carriageways in two 25-day windows for maintenance caused snarls on the Outer Ring Road, which is critical to overall travel in South Delhi.
The Outer Ring Road is also one of the most essential roads to the Delhi airport. Commuters estimated it would take them up to an hour to go less than one kilometre from Panchsheel Park Metro Station to the overpass.
On the first day of the repairs, which began on March 12, there were bumper-to-bumper traffic bottlenecks running all the way to Nehru Place. The Nehru Place-Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi road was closed in the first phase.
In the second phase, the flyover was closed for commuters travelling in the opposite direction.
After nearly two months of repair work, Public Works Department (PWD) authorities and the final four repaired lanes reopened for traffic. The flyover requires expansion joint repairs to ensure the concrete surface’s lifetime.
